The Rainbow Mountains Beauty Found in Peru

The Rainbow Mountains have become increasingly popular with tourists for their appearance, gentle slopes, and different colored stripes, giving a fantastic appearance.

The most popular tourist destination in Peru has long been Machu Picchu, the amazing ancient city of the Incas, which is built high in the Andes Mountains. But there is another incredible attraction elsewhere in Peru, close to a city called Cusco.

These are the Rainbow Mountains, which have become increasingly popular in the last few years. Recognizable for their sandy appearance, gentle slopes, and stripes of different colors, the Rainbow Mountains look like something that comes straight out of a fairy tale.

But, there is an explanation for the multi-colored mountains, and in this article, we’ll discuss how the colors came to be, what traveling to the mountains can be like, and other concerns about the attraction, as well as possible exaggerations of pictures, and if the colors are really as bright as they appear

Why Are They Called the Rainbow Mountains?

The rainbow colors of the attractions are there because of things that happened long ago. At one point in history, the Rainbow Mountains were covered in ice, and when that ice melted, the water that resulted mixed with the minerals in the soil of the mountains. Each color is indicative of a different mineral’s presence in the landform; for example, the red stripes on the mountains are there because of rust from iron oxide, and the yellows are because of iron sulfide.

Additionally, the purple coloring indicates either goethite or oxidized limonite, and the green strips are because of chlorite. But, all mountains and landmarks have minerals, so why aren’t more natural landscapes rainbow colored? The reason that the multitude of colors is able to be seen has to do with processes that happen under the surface, such as uplift, which is when certain areas of Earth are lifted above the surface. Another one of these geological processes in crustal shortening.

The Process of Forming the Rainbow Mountains

This process happens when tectonic activity, happening at convergent plate boundaries, causes the size of the earth’s crust to decrease. Less dense pieces of crust move under the denser pieces to form mountains, reducing the size of the crust. In the case of the Rainbow Mountains, this tectonic activity allowed the colors underneath to be seen. But how bright really are those colors?

Some pictures have been Photoshopped or otherwise edited to make the rainbow appear almost neon, but the brightness of the colors often depend on the weather. Sunnier days result in brighter colors, but on rainy or cloudy days, the colors can appear almost dull.

Tourist Concerns About the Rainbow Mountains

As many natural wonders eventually do, the Rainbow Mountains of Peru may eventually need conservation efforts due to the increased levels of tourism. Leaders of tours are worried that the Rainbow Mountains will soon fall victim to over tourism, as they typically have between 3,000 and 4,000 visitors each day, and the sustainability of the attraction is something for which many are concerned.

The site is already small, and because of the harmful actions that take place, like walking off the trails and littering, as well as the overwhelming amount of people that visit, the Rainbow Mountains may soon be seriously hurt. However, tourism helps many local businesses, so it is hoped that a solution that both preserves the beauty of the mountains and the health of Cusco and other local towns.

Health Concerns

There are also health concerns for prospective tourists who are looking to visit the Rainbow Mountains. Those who are unprepared for the high altitude (5, 200 meters!) can suffer from altitude sickness, the symptoms of which include dehydration, headaches, and loss of appetite.

Tour companies do carry oxygen, but for those who aren’t adjusted to Peru’s altitude or just don’t do well with it in general, a hike in the Rainbow Mountains with thin air and low oxygen levels may not be for what they are best suited. Packing hiking boots and proper clothing for the hike is also necessary. Clothing for all weather should be packed, including waterproof jackets, other jackets, ponchos, a hat, and sunscreen.

The trip to the Rainbow Mountains of Peru can be challenging, but deeply rewarding when you come over the hills, see the colors, and are reminded of the natural beauty and amazing things the natural world has to offer.